Apparatus for producing rubber strips.



No. 850,485. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. J. F. OTT.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER $TRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1905.

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fl Mam tow No. 850,485. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. J. F. OTT.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 18, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 850.485. PATENTBD APR.I16, 1907 A J. F. OTT. V APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR l8 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0. 850,485. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

J. P. O'I'T.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR 18. 1905.

7 SHEBTS-SHEET 4.

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23% Mums IV 'YQEETS-SHEET 6.

PATENTBD APR. 16, 1907.

J. F. OTT. A APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 18. 1905.

PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

Y J. P. OTT. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1905.

IISHEETS-SHEET 7.

A w NWN UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

JOHN F. ()T T, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR -T() lil'l lSQN S'IORAGF,

B.A.l"llillt.Y JUMPAN Y OF WEST ORANGE,

OF NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A (lURPtJliA'llt)N APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RUBBER STRIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

To a, whom if only ooncerw- Be it known that 1, JOHN F. Orr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Apparatusfor Producing Rub her Strips, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to a'iparatus bv means of which strips of hard ru )ber or simi lar material, preferably rectangular in cross section and free from Warped or distorted portions, may be rapidly and cheaply pro duced from long continuous sheets of such material. Such strips as those referred to are useful for a number of purposes, but more particularly for separating adjacent plates of opposite polarity in storage ba teries. l leretolore strips of this character have been produced with dilliculty and at a high cost by a molding process.

lhave discovered that itis possible to pro duce suitable strips by subjecting a sheet of material to a sufficient heat to soften the same, rigidly holding the sheet by means of a suitably-applied clamping device, and then a passing a knife or similar cutter through the material while it is still soft and at a point where it is firmly held against yielding. l m" mediately after the strip is severed from the sheet means are ap lied to the same for straightening it an for holdin it in a straightened position until it is coo the cooling being preferably hastened by a refrigerating device, such as a tank of cold water,- the result being that the strip when released from the holding means is entirely cool and hard and remains permanently in the form desired.

My invention will now be more particu larly describedand claimed.

Reference is hereby made to the rim-on:- panying drawings, in which the same refer once-numerals are used to designate warresponding parts in the several views, of which Figure 1 is a plan illustrating one form of apparatus in which my invention may be em bodied. Figs. and are side and end cleve tions, respectively, of the same; Fig. 4, a se tion on the line 4 4 of Fig, i. Fig. 5 is a sec tion on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sec* tion on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an on i larged detail of a portion of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view showing in plan, partly in section, the cutter, cutter-slide, gage, guide, and o crating-lever. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional VIGW' of the holder used for 'feeding the sheet of material operated upon toward the cutter.

The apparatus shown com arises a support ind-frame l. of any suitable l'orm, carrying a table 2, upon which the sheet of n'uaterial 6 is laid and over which i t pro resses toward the cutter. The top of the taililo has a counter sunk portion. whose width is equal to that of the strip, and the latter occupies the same, being held against one side of the depression by a block 2*, pressed against the strip by a spring 2*. It is necessary that this table be koptat a sul'licieut heal to cause the ma rial to be thoroughly softened by the time it reaches the cutter. In order to accompli h this, i preferably form the same with a steam-chamber 3, for admitting steam under ordinary pressure and an outlet 5 for the escape of the con densed steam. The outlet-pipe 5 is provided with a steam-trap 5" of any approved form, which allows the water formed by con dense.- tion to be blown ofl whenever the tempera ture falls below a given noint for instance, 105 centigrade there y maintaining a practically constant high temperature in the chamber 3.

'The material to be treated is in the form of along sheet 6, the width of which is practically the same as that of the depressed ortion of the table and equal to the lengti of the strips which are to be produced. As each strip is removed from the forward edge of the sheet by the cutter it is necessary that the sheet be fed forward. For this. purpose I provide a holder 7, (see Fig. 9,) which re ocives the rear edge of the sheet and is caused to press against the same by means of a weight 8, connected to the holder-ring 9 by means of a rope or wire 10, assing over the pulleys 11 and 12. This eed mechanism provides a constant pressi'lre upon the sheet 6, since it is indepeni. cut of th length of the sheetv in order to prevent bending or buc l ling ol the said sheet, the boards l3 iii are placed thereon, said hoards being separated by a longitudinal space of sufficient width to allow the ring 9 to be carried along as the provided with an inlet 4 I "in material is fed forward. These boards perform also the additional function of a blanket for the material which is to be cut, so that it remains in a warm and soft condition suitable for being operated upon. I

The cutting operation takes place at the forward edge of the table 2, the arrangement of parts being clearly shown in Fig. 7. A vertically-movable clamping-block 14 is situated directly above the material 6, at the forward edge of the-table 2. This block is provided for the purpose of firmly holding the softened material while the cutter is operat ing to sever the same. The block is orced down upon the material with suitable pressure by means of a screw 15, threaded in a bridge 16, which is bolted to the table 2, as shown in Fig. 5. The screw 15 is operated by means of a clamp 17, operated by ahandlever 1.8 through the connecting-link 19. (See- Fig. 1.) The hand-lever 18 slmultaneously operates a vertical rock-shaft 20 for a urose which will be hereinafter referre to. hen the handle 18 is moved in one direction, it is obvious that the clampin block 14 Will be pressed against the materlal 6 with considerable force. When the handle'l8 is moved in the opposite direction, the screw 16 moves upward, and the block 14 follows the screw b reason of the coil-springs 21 at each en thereof. (See Figs. 5 and 7.)

The cutter preferably consists of a circular knife 22, bolted firmly to the slide 23 by means of a bolt 24. The slide 23 is provided with a dovetail groove 25, which receives a horizontal rib 26 of corresponding shape, which is formed upon a bar 27, extending transversely across the forwardend of the machine and bolted rigidly ,to the support ing-framework, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; Screws 28 are threaded in the slide 23 and bear against the upper surface ofthe rib 26, thus preventing any lost motion between the rib and groove and providing an adjustment for wear of these parts. It will be seen that the knife 22 moves in a horizontal path immediately in front of and in shearing relation to the forward edges of the table 2 and block 14, the cuttin edge extending slightly below the upper surface of the table. The slide 23 is operated by means of a hand-lever 29, .pivoted at 30 to a link 31, which in turn is pivoted at 32 to the supporting-framework. The slide 23 carries apin 33, upon which the upper end of the operating-lever 29 is rotatably mounted.

The width of the strip which is to be severed is determined by means of the ga e 34, carried by the slide 23 and adjustabie toward and away from the slide by means of a series of screws 35 and 36. (Clearly shown in Fig. 8.) One end of the slide 23 carries a piece 2]., of spring metal, for the purpose of deflecting the strip as it is formed and freeing the knife from the end of the strip after the same has been completel severed from the sheet 6. The ortion of t e sheet which projects to form t e strip is held against lateral movement by.a rectangular pin 60, projecting upwardlyfrom the forwardly-extending flan e 61 of the plate 38, which is secured to the ody of the machine. The rear side of this pin is beveled to permit the assage of the knife. (See Fig. 7.) Obvious y this pin will prevent the severed strip from being carried along by the knife and will insure.its dropping into the receptacle now to be described. It also revents yielding during the cutting operation of that portion of the sheet which is to form the strip.

The means for straightening and holding the strips while cooling is composed of two parallel vertical plates 38 and 39, having forwardly-e'xtending lateral flanges 61 and 62, respectively, which are bolted together. (See Fig. 3.) An inclined plate 40 is secured to the upper portion of the plate 39 b means of an elastic or spring strip 41 and orms with the upper plate 38 a hopper for receiving the strips as they fall from the knife. The plate resser-plates 42, carried on opposite ends 0 a supporting spring-strip 44, the said spring serving to press the plates 42 against the cut strips, thereby pressing the latter against the plate 38. The strips are packed into the holder just described by means of an oscillating packer 45, consisting of a plate of about the same length as the strips and holding-plates 38 39 and carried by the supporting-arms 46, fixed to a rock-shaft 47. This shaft is oscillated by means of a crank 48, link 49, crank 50, and crank-disk 5-1, the latter bein 20, herembefore described. ,By this means the packer 45 is given one downward packing movement every time the clampingblock 14 is raised or lowered, which is of course as often as the cutter is operated to remove a strip of material from the sheet 6.

fixed to the lower end of the shaft 39 is dprovided with openings, inwhich are 10- ca-te The lower portions of the holding-plates 38" and 39 extend into a tank 52, containing cold water, for the purpose of cooling the strips while they are in the holder, whereby they will become hardened while held in the desired shape which they retain when removed from the holder, said lower portions of the said plates 38 and 39 being preferably provided with perforations 53 in order to expose the strips more effectively to the action of the water. The operation of the packer forces the strips down between the plates 38 and 39 until they eventually pass from between the lower eges of said plates into the lower portion of the tank 52.

The operation of the device is briefly as follows: A sheet 6, of hard rubber or similar material, is laid upon the heated table 2, be- I ing held down thereon and protected by means of boards13. The clamping-block 14 carry the knife 22 along the forward edges of.

the block 14 and table 2 and through the material' 6, whereby a strip of material is severed therefrom and falls into the hopper between the plates and 38. The next move-- ment of the hand-lever 18 causes the packer to press the strip down between the plates 38 and 39', whereby the strip, being still soft, is straightened. The forcing of the successive strips down into the holder causes them to travel down vertically between the plates 39 until they reach the tank 52 containin cold water, by which they are chilled an hardened while still in the holder, and the strips are eventually forced from between the lower edges of the said plate into the lower portion of the tank 52.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new-therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In an apparatus of the character de-- scribed, aheated table, means for clamping upon said table the material to be treated, a cutter, and means fonpassing said cutter through said material in close proximity to the clamping means, substantially as .set forth. 2. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, means for clamping upon said table the material to be treated, a cutter, means for passing said cutter through the material in close proximity to the clamping means,".and means for straightening. the severed portion, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, means for heatin the material to be treated, means for rigid y holding the softened material, a cutter, means for passing said cutter through the material in close proximity to the holdin means, means for straightening the severe portion and means for cooling the same, substantially as set forth.

. 4. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, means for clamping a sheet of material upon said table adjacent one edge thereof and a cutter mounted to move in shearin relation to said edge, substantially as set orth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, a uide, a cutter-support moving on said gui e, a cutter carried by said support, a clamp for holding a sheet of material upon said table and a gage for de termin'ing the width of material to be cut, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, a uide, a cutter-support moving on said guide, a cutter carried by said support, a clamp for holding a sheet of material upon said table, and an adjust ablegage for determining the width of material to be out, substantially as set forth.;

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, means for clampinga sheet of material upon said table adjacent.

one edge thereof, a cutter mounted to move in shearing relation to said edge and means for progressively feeding a sheet of material along said table toward said cutter, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a heated table, means for clamping a sheet of material upon said table. adjacent one edge thereof, a cutter mounted to move in shearing relation to said edge, and feeding means exerting a constant stress for pro ressingthe sheet of .material along said tab e toward said cutter, substantially as set forth.

9.. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically-mov- 1 ing clamping-block 14, a fixed member 2, a screw 15 for depressing the block 14, means for operatin said screw, and springs for elevating the lock 14 when the depressingscrew is reversed, substantially as set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a fixed member 27, having a horizontal guide 26, aslide 23 moving on said guide and providedwith a cutter'24 and a gage 34, substantially as set forth. 7

11. In an a paratus of the character described, a fixe member 27 havin a horizontal uide 26 and a slide 23 moving on said ui e and provided with a cutter 24 and a deector 37 having a substantially vertical portion close to and substantially in line with the cutting'e'd e of the cutter, whereby it is adapted to de ect the severed material away from the stock, substantially as set forth.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a holder having vertical walls which diverge at the top formln a hopper to catch the out strips, a movable packer to force the strips between the vertical walls and a coolin device surrounding the lower portion of sai holder, substantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable cutter, a holder having vertical walls which diverge at the top form-- ing a hopper'to catch the cut strips, a spring for pressin the strips against one of the walls ofthehol er and a movable packer distinct from said cutter to force the strips downward in the holder, substantially as set forth.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a holder having vertical walls which diverge at the top forrmng a hopper to catch the cut strips, a sprin for pressing the strips against one of the wal s ofthe holder, a movable packer to force the strips downward in the holder, and a cooling dfice surrounding the lower portion of said holder, substantially as set forth.

15. In an apparatus of the character. described, a holder having vertical walls which diverge at the top forming a hopper to catch the cut strips,- a movable packer to force the strips between the vertical walls, said packer comprising a piv'otally-supported strip movable into and out of said hopper, and means for operating said packer, substantially as set forth.

1 6. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable clamping-block, a movable cutter, a holder for receiving the severed strips, a packer for forcing said strips into said holder, means for operating said clamping-block, and connections whereby each operation of the clampin -block is accompanied by an operation of the packer, substantially as set forth.

17. In an apparatus of the. character described, a heated table having a longitudinally-extending depression, means for clamping a sheet of material upon said table adja-.

cent one edge thereof, a cutter mounted to move in shearing relation to said edge, means for progressively feeding a sheet of material above said table in the depression thereof and toward said cutter, and means for holding said sheet against one side of said depres- 

